‘Except you didn’t,’ added Maria.

Fabel handed the file back to her. ‘Let’s go,’ he said, and Maria and Werner fell in behind him.

* * *

The secretary did her best to stop the train of Fabel, Maria and Werner as it steamed past her and into Volker’s office. Volker was sitting behind his desk and was talking in English to two shirtsleeved men who sat opposite him. Fabel guessed that the two Amis were members of the six-strong FBI team that had been seconded to the Polizei Hamburg following the September 11 attacks. Volker hastily wrapped a smile around his naked annoyance at being disturbed.

‘I take it this is a matter of some importance, Herr Hauptkommissar?’

Fabel did not answer but looked pointedly at the Americans.

‘I’m sorry, gentlemen,’ said Volker in what Fabel recognised as excellent English. ‘I wonder if we could conclude our briefing later?’

As they left, the Americans cast glances at Fabel that lay somewhere between curiosity and anger. Volker leaned back in his leather chair and held his hand out, as if inviting Fabel to bring it all on. It was a gesture of arrogant casualness that Fabel realised was intended to push him into anger, and therefore nudge the balance of any exchange in Volker’s favour. Having recognised Volker’s strategy, Fabel paused before speaking, moving over and taking one of the chairs recently vacated by an American.

‘Yes, Oberst Volker, this is a matter of importance. And some urgency. I intend to call a press conference about the murders I’m investigating,’ Fabel lied. ‘I need to set a few things straight for the public. In fact I intend to render you something of a favour.’ Fabel smiled coldly.

‘Oh? How so?’

‘Well, I have prepared a statement which categorically denies that the BND is protecting the murderer, a former Ukrainian counter-terrorist officer called Vasyl Vitrenko, just because he may be of use as a source of information on al-Qaeda and other Islamic terrorist organisations.’

Fabel could see that Volker was using every ounce of his will-power to keep his face from betraying his emotions.

Fabel continued. ‘I am going to make special mention that you, personally, would obviously have no truck with any such cover-up and all rumours to the contrary are false.’

Volker’s lips slipped back from his teeth in something that defied description as a smile. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’

‘Wouldn’t dare what? Protect your reputation in the face of such scurrilous rumours?’

‘There are no rumours …’

Fabel looked at his watch. ‘No? So it isn’t true that an incriminating, anonymous package of information has been received by Stern or Hamburger Morgenpost …’ Fabel leaned forward in his chair and almost spat the final word at Volker: ‘yet!’

‘Like I say, you wouldn’t dare …’ said Volker, but his voice betrayed a shadow of uncertainty.

‘Oberst Volker, I would be obliged if you could fulfil our original agreement and share all the information available to you that is relevant to this investigation. Let’s start with the Eitels’ involvement with a Kiev-based cartel that is somehow profiting illegally from property-redevelopment initiatives in Hamburg. The Corporate and Financial Crime Division is questioning both Eitels as we speak. When I go downstairs after this meeting, Herr Oberst, I intend to hand them a lead substantial enough to allow the Staatsanwaltschaft to grant a search-and-seizure warrant. In addition I want to know where to find former Comrade Vitrenko and his principal officers. Now … if this were all to happen, these leaked documents and the press conference I mentioned may not be necessary.’